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, n mi 'NJ'EPJTOHS d. wdmmk @www 0d.. 31, 1967 2c. J. Mmmm HAL 3;,3499723 FOLDING TABLE Filed Nov. 25, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS @www i @www E, mmwk ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,349,728 FOLDING TABLE Chester J. Barecki, and Walter E. N ordmark, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignors to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 597,052 8 Claims. (Cl. 10S-131) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a folding table, and more particularly to a table in which the supporting legs may be swung outwardly into firmly latched position, and when swung inwardly will be automatically retained in folded position.

An object of the invention is to provide a folding table c' in which pivotally-mounted legs at the ends of the table may be folded -outwardly into table-supporting position and automatically latched in this position. A further object is to provide a table structure in which novel locking mechanism latches the legs in table-supporting position i while permitting ready release of the latch means for restoring the legs to folded position. Yet another object is to provide latching mechanism for a folding table leg structure whereby the legs will be held in folded relation automatically when the legs are swung inwardly.

Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown in an illustrative embodiment, by the accompanying drawings, in which- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a folding table embodying our invention; FIG. 2, a perspective view of the table lying on one edge and with one supporting leg structure folded and the other leg structure swung outwardly into table-supporting position; FIG. 3, a broken perspective View of a portion of the table structure and the legs at one end thereof, the legs being shown in folded position;

FIG. 4, a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the legs in table-supporting position; FIG. 5, a broken perspective view of the locking mechanism which is secured to the bottom of the table top; FIG. 6, a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the toggle lever being swung toward latching position; FIG. 7, a v-iew similar to FIG. 6 but showing the latching lever in locked position; and FIG. 8, a view similar -to FIG. 7 but showing the latch bar swung rearwardly to release the lever so that it may be swung to unlocked position.

In the illustration given, 10 designates a table top which may, if desired, be provided with a perimetric channel 11 therebelow. Pivotally secured to the table top at each end thereof are table legs 12, the legs being provided with laterally-turned top portions 13 received within metal brackets 14. At the end of the table, each pair of legs 12 is preferably connected by a cross bar or tube 15.

As shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pair of legs 12 at each end of the table is apertured to receive the outwardly-turned ends of a brace bar 16 which provides a latching loop 17 at its inner end. The latching loop 17 extends through an aperture in a toggle lever or link 18 which is pivotally mounted on a retainer plate 19. The retainer plate 19, as shown best in FIGS. 5-8, is pro- 3,349,728 Patented Oct. 31, 1967 ICC vided with downwardly-extending flanges 20 having at the outer end thereof aligned latching notches 21. The retainer plate may be secured to the bottom of the table top 10 by screws 22 or by any other suitable means. The retainer plate 19 is channelled centrally to provide a central panel 23 spaced at the table top and provided with a pair of latch openings 24 and 25. At the end of the retainer plate 19 opposite the notches 21, we provide a pivot pin 26 which extends through the flanges 20 and carries sleeves 27 extending between flanges 20. The pin may be held in position by push nuts 28 and carries link 18.

Toggle lever 18 is pivotally mounted upon the sleeve 27 so as to swing freely inwardly and outwardly to the positions illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. It carries a latch bar 29 which may be provided with a handle 30. The latch bar is slidably mounted upon the lever 18 by headed rivets 31 which have shoulder portions extending through slots 32. An expansion latch spring 33 normally urges the latch bar 29 toward latching position. The latch bar is provided with catches or hooks 34 and 35, each of hooks being provided with an inclined portion 36 which is adapted to engage the channel wall 23 and move the bar 29 laterally until the catches snap into latching position in the openings 24 and 25. The automatic lateral movement of the latch bar 29 in first swinging to the left and then to the Vright is illustrated by arrows in FIG. 6. The fully latched position is shown in FIG. 7.

The pin 26 and the sleeves 27 are spaced outwardly by the flanges 20 from the bottom of the table top panel in order to allow the toggle lever or link 18 to swing over center and against the bottom of the table top, as the legs are folded inwardly. In this operation, the spring brace 16 yields and the spring brace together with the weight of the leg structure holds the entire leg structure tightly against the table top bottom.

The diagonal brace member 16 not only provides a latching loop for anchoring the legs individually to the retainer plate when the legs are swung out to table-supporting position, but also yield as the legs swing inwardly and the toggle lever 18 swings past center and then serves as a retainer for maintaining the table legs firmly in folded position. The lever 18 cooperates with the diagonal brace 16 in retaining the legs in folded position, while also serving to guide the loop latch 17 into the locking notches 21 of the retainer plate flanges 20. The latch bar 29 is preferably provided with a lug or additional support 37 for engagement with the leg brace 16.

Operation In the operation of the structure, the cable legs 12 may be swung outwardly into table-supporting position with the parts shown in the position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7. In this operation, the lever 18 guides the loop portion 17 of brace 16 into the locking notches 21 of the retainer plate 19. Further, as the lever 18 swings inwardly, the inclined edges 36 of the latching bar 19 en gage the channel panel 23 and move the bar 29 first to the left until the catches clear the wall 23 and snap into latching position, the movement first to the left and then to the right being shown by arrows in FIG. 6. The latched lever 18, as shown best in FIG. 4, now holds the brace member 16 firmly within the locking notches 21,

When the legs 12 are folded, the catches 34 and 35 are released from the openings 24 and 25 by grasping handle 30 and moving it to the left, as shown best in FIG. 8. The lever 18 is moved outwardly so that the loop 17 clears the notches 21 and, as the legs 12 are folded inwardly, the toggle lever 1S moves past center and is drawn against the bottom of the table panel 10. Thus, the brace 16 and the legs 12 to which it .is anchored are held firmly against the bottom of the table.

It will be understood that instead of employing two flanges with aligned notches, a single flange and notch may be used, and instead of employing two latch openin-gs and cooperating catches, a single opening and catch may be used in cooperation with a brace member having a laterally-extending latch member at the end. We prefer, however, because of the great stability afforded to mploy the spaced flanges with aligned notches for engaging the loop end of the brace member 16 and the catch mechanism illustrated. The loop end 17 by engagement with the spaced notches provides a sturdy s-upport against weaving, twisting, etc. while at the same time permitting ready engagement and disengagement in the locking and unlocking operations.

While in the foregoing specification, we have shown the structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be understood that such details may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. In a folding table having a top panel and legs supporting the ends of the table top and foldable inwardly to closed position, the improvement which comprises a brace member pivotally secured to the legs at an end of the table and extending inwardly to provide a latch loop, a retainer plate secured to the bottom of the table top and equipped with a downwardly-extending flange having a transverse notch adapted to receive said loop, and a toggle lever pivotally mounted on said retainer inwardly of and at a spaced distance from said notch, said lever having its free end apertured to receive the inner end of said loop, said toggle lever being of such a length as to bring said loop into engagement with said notch when said legs and loop member are swung outwardly to a table-supporting position.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which spring-urged latch means are carried by the toggle lever for engagement with latch openings in the retainer plate.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said lever is pivotally mounted upon the flanges of the retainer plate at a spaced distance outwardly from the table top whereby the lever swings over center and against said top when the legs are swung inwardly to closed position.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said retainer plate has a pair of spaced flanges extending downwardly and provided with aligned notches and said brace member provides a loop engaging both notches.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which said lever is provided with a slidably-mounted latch bar and said retainer plate is provided with a central channel spacing a latch panel from the bottom of the table top and in which the said panel is provided with a latch opening for receiving said lever catch.

6. In a folding table having a top and a pair of legs at each end of the table foldable inwardly to closed position, the improvement which comprises a brace member pivotally secured to each of the legs and extending inwardly to provide a latch loop, a retainer plate secured to the bottom of the table top and equipped with a pair of downwardly-extending spaced flanges having aligned transverse notches adapted to receive said loop, and a toggle lever pivotally mounted on said retainer inwardly of and spaced from said notch, said lever having its free end apertured to receive said spring loop, said toggle lever being of such a length as to bring said loop into engagement with said notches when said legs and loop member are swung outwardly to table-supporting position.

7. The structure of claim 6 in which said retainer plate is provided with a central channel providing an outwardly-spaced panel having latch openings and said lever is provided with a slidable latch bar equipped with catches for engaging said latch openings, and spring means urging said catches toward said latch openings, said catches being provided with inclined surfaces for engaging said panel to move said bar laterally and to bring said catches into engagement with said latch openings.

8. The structure of claim 6 in which said brace member is yformed of spring material and yields when said toggle lever is swung past center, as the legs are folded inwardly, and then tensions said lever against the bottom of the table to retain said lever and legs firmly in folded position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 298,430 5/1884 Thayer 108--131 1,879,649 9/1932 Wilkinson 108-115 2,202,624 5/ 1940 De Saussure 108-131 2,689,158 9/1954 Mahr 10S-131 2,756,082 7/1956 Pucci 108-131 X 2,730,372 1/1956 Mahr 108131 2,829,019 4/1958 Hoven et al. 108-131 2,879,118 3/1959 Kolb 108-115 2,969,249 1/1961 Fox 108-131 2,978,895 4/ 1961 Heisler 108--115 JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A FOLDING TABLE HAVING A TOP PANEL AND LEGS SUPPORTING THE ENDS OF THE TABLE TOP AND FOLDABLE INWARDLY TO CLOSED POSITION, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A BRACE MEMBER PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE LEGS AT AN END OF THE TABLE AND EXTENDING INWARDLY TO PROVIDE A LATCH LOOP, A RETAINER PLATE SECURED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE TOP AND EQUIPPED WITH A DOWNWARLY-EXTENDING FLANGE HAVING A TRANSVERSE NOTCH ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID LOOP, AND A TOGGLE LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID RETAINER INWARDLY OF SAID AT A SPACED DISTANCE FROM SAID NOTCH, SAID LEVER HAVING ITS FREE END APERTURED TO RECEIVE THE INNER END OF SAID LOOP, SAID TOGGLE LEVER BEING OF SUCH A LENGTH AS TO BRING SAID LOOP INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID NOTCH WHEN SAID LEGS AND LOOP MEMBER ARE SWUNG OUTWARDLY TO A TABLE-SUPPORTING POSITION. 